Women encouraged to start a business

The DTI is holding a two-day online event to encourage women to take the first step towards building a business.

The Women's Enterprise Online Event is held today and tomorrow from 10am to 7pm (Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 June) and is aimed at motivating more women to consider enterprise as a viable prospect, 'by inspiring them with successful role models and by linking them up with women's support networks and business support organisations'.

This is part of the Government's on-going drive to encourage what it sees as under-represented groups to start their own businesses. Previous initiatives have focused on ethnic minorities, inner city areas and ex-offenders.

Meg Munn, Deputy Minister for Women, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for prospective businesswomen to gain inspiration and insight from successful women role models and to make contact with essential support networks.

"Estimates show that if women in the UK were to set up businesses at the same rate as men, there would be an additional 150,000 new businesses a year, and this would significantly increase the £50-£70 billion a year women-owned businesses already contribute to the economy.

"The UK continues to be one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world. I've met a lot of women who run their own businesses both in my own constituency and at national events. Talking to them is always inspirational and I'm convinced that many more women have the skills to run businesses. I hope this event will be informative and inspire many more women to start their own business."

The online event will provide motivational content and include a number of 'Live Chat' sessions. There will be a resource centre with details of regional and national women's enterprise support organisations.